MANORVALE Primary School principal Helen Watson has denied the Prime Minister’s visit was the reason she told an eight-year-old pupil to stay at home.
Declan Evans missed out on meeting Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday after he was caught climbing classroom furniture on Thursday afternoon.
Rebecca Evans was called in to collect her child from school at 3pm and asked not to bring her son to school the following day.
Ms Evans said she “put two and two together” when the school later announced the PM would be visiting the school at 12.30pm.
“I got a phone call to collect my son because he was being unsafe and jumping off things in the classroom,” Ms Evans said. “I was then asked to keep my son at home because she [school principal] thought it would be best, only to make an announcement that they were having a guest appearance of Julia Gillard.
“It’s obvious why they didn’t want my son at school.”
When Ms Evans protested and said she was bringing her son to school anyway, Ms Watson told her she had to be available to pick him up if he misbehaved again.
“I’m absolutely horrified – it’s not like he is a danger to the PM. He’s eight years old. They just didn’t want a bad reputation if he played up,” Ms Evans said.
Ms Watson denied the request to keep Declan at home was related to Ms Gillard’s visit.
“I asked if she [Rebecca Evans] was going to be available to collect him if his behaviour was unsafe again, and she said she wasn’t going to be available. He was asked to stay at home because the safety of the children was a concern.”
